Death Notice: WILLIAM WILSON PARKS

William Wilson "Bill" Parks, age 86, beloved husband of Joan Simpson, nee Erdmann; loving father of Julia Soxman (David L.) of Kansas City; brother of Richard R. Parks of Corvallis, OR. Predeceased by first wife, Patricia, nee Gaghan, died at The Classic Residence by Hyatt in Glenview, Dec. 9, 2008.

He was born Dec. 11, 1921, in Oak Park, IL. Undergraduate degree earned at Illinois Institute of Technology and Masters Degree in Business Administration from University of Chicago.

Bill was a U.S. Navy Veteran and served with the Seabees 111th Battalion in the Philippines.

Bill was a world recognized yachtsman.

He was awarded a bronze medal in the 1960 Olympics racing a STAR Class boat.

He was Commodore of Chicago Yacht Club, Commodore of the Chicago Yachting Association, President of the International Star Class Yacht Racing Association, a many year board member of the Judd Goldman Adaptive Sailing Foundation, and served as a Yachting Judge for the 1984 Olympics.

He was Chicago Yachtsman of the Year in 1994.

His business life was spent entirely with VAPOR Corporation, first as a development engineer in the steam generator lab and eventually became President a few years before his retirement, 40 years later! He held six patents for transportation equipment devices.

He served on the Board of Directors of the American Public Transit Association.

In the 40's and 50's Bill sang barbershop, one time appearing with his quartet on the same program as the Buffalo Bills.

He moved on to classical and popular music, played piano and composed and arranged music.

In addition to his wife, daughter and brother he leaves a huge void in the lives of his son-in-law, David Soxman; and Joan's three daughters, Tobey Robertson (Scott), Kyle Witt (Craig) and Megan B. Simpson (Ian Marshall); as well as Joan's five grandchildren.